Table I.
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristics | Training group (n = 36) | Control group (n = 15) | Value of p |
|---|---|---|---|
| Males | 31 (86) | 15 (100) | NS |
| Age [years] | 52.6 ±10.12 | 61.4 ±13.2 | 0.0205 |
| Left ventricular ejection fraction (%) | 32 ±7 | 33 ±8 | NS |
| Etiology of heart failure: | |||
| Ischaemic | 25 (69.4) | 12 (80.0) | NS |
| Non-ischaemic | 11 (30.6) | 3 (20.0) | NS |
| Past medical history: | |||
| Myocardial infarction | 24 (66.7) | 12 (80.0) | NS |
| Angioplasty | 18 (50.0) | 10 (66.7) | NS |
| Coronary artery bypass grafting | 6 (11.8) | 4 (26.7) | NS |
| Stroke | 1 (2.9) | 1 (6.7) | NS |
| Diabetes | 8 (22.2) | 4 (26.67) | NS |
| Hyperlipidaemia | 19 (52.8) | 8 (53.3) | NS |
| Functional status: | |||
| NYHA II | 32 (88.9) | 8 (53.3) | 0.009 |
| NYHA III | 4 (11.1) | 7 (46.7) | 0.009 |
| Heart rate variability: | |||
| SDNN [ms] | 118 ±30 | 124 ±32 | NS |
| Low frequency [ms2/Hz] | 532 ±601 | 339 ±211 | NS |
| High frequency [ms2/Hz] | 392 ±493 | 225 ±154 | NS |
| Low-to-high frequency ratio | 1.91 ±1.11 | 2.2 ±1.6 | NS |
| Heart rate turbulence: | |||
| Turbulence onset (%) | –1.51 ±3.12 | –1.31 ±1.13 | NS |
| Turbulence slope [ms/RR interval] | 9.04 ±10.29 | 5.43 ±5.01 | NS |
| Cardiopulmonary exercise test: | |||
| Peak VO2 [ml/kg/min] | 16.98 ±4.02 | 17.90 ±3.61 | NS |
| Treatment: | |||
| β-Blocker | 36 (100) | 15 (100) | NS |
| Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors | 32 (88.9) | 13 (86.7) | NS |
| Angiotensin receptor blockers | 4 (11.1) | 1 (6.7) | NS |
| Loop diuretics | 19 (52.8) | 8 (53.3) | NS |
| Aspirin | 29 (80.6) | 11 (73.3) | NS |
| Anticoagulants | 8 (22.2) | 4 (26.7) | NS |
| Statins | 28 (77.8) | 11 (73.3) | NS |
| Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator | 24 (66.7) | 9 (60.0) | NS |
Data presented are mean ± SD or n (%), NS – non-significant, NYHA – New York Heart Association class, SDNN – standard deviation of all normal RR intervals, peak VO2 – peak oxygen consumption.